Gorongosa National Park in Sofala province is planning a new aerial survey of large wildlife between 1 and 25 October to monitor the recovery of biodiversity across its ecosystem. The operation will cover 210,000 hectares and forms part of the Gorongosa Restoration Project, representing a critical step in assessing the evolution of animal populations in one of Africa’s most significant protected ecosystems.
The initiative is detailed in a public tender notice, cited by Lusa, issued to contract the aerial services required for the operation. According to the document, the census will be conducted along pre-defined linear transects, enabling the collection of scientific data on the distribution and abundance of large-mammal populations.
‘The helicopter must complete approximately 90 flight hours, including additional movements totalling roughly 550 kilometres,’ the tender states. The data gathered will strengthen scientific monitoring of the park and support the definition of conservation strategies for the protected area.
The new count follows Gorongosa National Park’s announcement of a historic wildlife record, with 110,513 large animals tallied during an aerial survey conducted between 8 and 22 October 2025. That census covered an area of 197,000 hectares and recorded ‘the highest numbers ever registered,’ reflecting decades of ecological recovery since Mozambique’s civil war.
In the month in which it marks 66 years of existence, Gorongosa National Park reported hosting more than 500 butterfly species, the result of a biodiversity restoration process widely regarded as one of the most successful on the African continent. Established in 1960, the park lost a large proportion of its wildlife during the civil war but has progressively recovered through protection programmes, species translocation, and habitat management.
According to the park’s administration, this recovery has once again transformed the protected area into a refuge for vulnerable and critically endangered species, including vulture populations and other birds of conservation priority. Regular aerial censuses form one of the pillars of the reserve’s scientific management, providing essential data to guide conservation strategies and assess the state of the ecosystem.
Gorongosa National Park has also invested in integrating local communities into its conservation initiatives through programmes in education, participatory science, and sustainable income generation. In 2025, the park’s administration emphasised that its mission is to ‘protect biodiversity and improve people’s livelihoods,’ combining rewilding, youth education, and community-led conservation.
The Gorongosa Restoration Project is the result of a partnership between the Mozambican government and the foundation of American philanthropist Greg Carr. Since the management agreement signed in 2008, subsequently extended by a further 25 years in 2018, the number of large animals in the park has grown from approximately 10,000 to more than 110,000.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/07/23/economia/conservacao/sofala-parque-nacional-da-gorongosa-preve-nova-contagem-aerea-de-fauna-para-outubro/
